Lord of The Mysterious Realms Chapter 1067

"So it'll take a week before we can leave?"

Hearing Jenkins's reply, the man inside muttered anxiously, about to thank him again. But Jenkins, who had already taken a step back, didn't leave. Instead, he turned and returned to the doorway. He struggled for a moment to reach inside his heavy protective suit, then pulled out a ten-shilling banknote and handed it to the man.

"This is from Fini, for Louise," Jenkins explained. "She's in isolated training at the Church of the Sage and probably won't be able to visit her friend for a long time."

The man froze for a moment, then quickly snatched the banknote from Jenkins's hand. Before he could offer his thanks a third time, Jenkins had already turned and was striding toward the other end of the alley.

The afflicted family lived near the alley's other exit, in another low, single-story house that looked no different from the young flower seller's home. Stern-faced guards at the door were rigorously checking the identities of anyone who came or went. Jenkins had to wait several minutes before a Keeper of Secrets emerged from the house to escort him inside.

The body was in the inner bedroom. The room was small, so Jenkins saw the corpse before the Keeper of Secrets even had a chance to brief him on the details of the situation.

The body on the bed looked nothing like someone who had died less than half a day ago; it resembled a piece of mummified flesh. Aside from the conspicuous livor mortis, the corpse was wrinkled and shrunken from losing a massive amount of water in such a short time. Disorienting patterns had also appeared on its face and neck.

Jenkins noticed that the corpse's limbs had been handcuffed to the bed, and divine runes were carved into the bedframe to prevent it from suddenly "reviving." In fact, the body had already "awakened," but it was held immobile by the oppressive divine power.

Besides the faint stench of decay, the air held the distinct taint of necromantic power—a presence that was unmistakable to Jenkins, the wielder of the White Bone Holy Sword.

Only Miss Bevanna stood alone by the bed; everyone else remained huddled in the doorway. The other simple furnishings in the room were draped in white cloths, waiting to be carried out and incinerated.

"Jenkins, stay in the doorway," Bevanna warned. "This body is truly out of the ordinary."

Although it showed signs of the Corpse Plague, the body's appearance was unlike any of the other victims. Miss Bevanna's caution was justified, as Jenkins could clearly see a dense black aura radiating from the corpse. The woman's death, he suspected, involved more than just the plague.

"Is it a Mysterious Object connected to the disease?"

Jenkins's voice was muffled by his mask.

"Most likely," Bevanna replied. "But I haven't found any distinguishing marks. There are many Mysterious Objects that could cause a situation ... Corinshir, have your apprentices go check on the status of the plague outside. They can't help here."

Miss Bevanna instructed the Keeper of Secrets, who nodded silently and waved for the visibly uneasy apprentices to leave the room. She then stepped away from the bed herself, joining Jenkins and Corinshir against the wall by the door.

"What have you found, Miss Bevanna?"

the Keeper of Secrets asked cautiously.

"I suspect that anyone other than a demigod like me, or perhaps someone with a very specific ability, would die instantly upon approaching the bed... Have we confirmed the husband's status? Is he all right?"

"Yes, we've confirmed it," Corinshir replied. "He's perfectly healthy. And still among the living."

"That narrows the possibilities considerably."

As they spoke, Jenkins narrowed his eyes, continuing to study the corpse. The woman was unquestionably dead. He had also confirmed that both the plague and some still-unidentified Mysterious Object resided within the body.

What puzzled Jenkins, however, was that ever since he had entered the bedroom, the White Bone Holy Sword resting in his spirit had begun to stir restlessly. If he weren't actively suppressing it, he felt it would have materialized on its own and lunged at the corpse.

"Does the sword still possess the ability to devour undead Cursed Items?"

Jenkins speculated silently. He had no desire for anyone else to know of the sword's existence. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel(ꜰ)ire.net

Soon, the coroner squad from the Church of Death and End arrived. They were a special unit, temporarily formed to handle the fallout from the Skull Sword incident, and were responsible only for dealing with its victims.

The problem, however, was that no one besides Miss Bevanna could get close to the corpse. The squad leader, after getting her approval, held aloft the holy symbol of the Righteous God of Death and End and attempted to approach the bed under the protection of death's spirit. But if Miss Bevanna hadn't yanked him backward on his third step, the Nolan diocese would have had another casualty of the plague.

Their test confirmed it: the corpse's lethal aura wasn't caused by germs, but by an energy emanating from the body itself. Miss Bevanna could withstand it because her own power was strong enough to nullify the bizarre effect. No one else could.

Jenkins wanted to step forward and try himself, but just as he was about to voice the idea, the Keeper of Secrets, sensing his intent, placed a hand on his shoulder. Corinshir said nothing, but Jenkins understood the silent warning: Miss Bevanna would never permit it. Resigned, he stayed by the wall, mulling over the situation. His thoughts eventually began to drift, and he found himself wondering what his lonely cat was up to at that moment.

Even though Miss Bevanna could get near the bed, she dared not touch the corpse directly. It was clear that besides the dead woman's husband, no one in Nolan would risk it. The handcuffs and divine runes restraining the body had been affixed by the husband himself, acting under the Church's instructions. It was during that process they had discovered no one else could safely approach it.

After confirming the coroner squad could do nothing, Miss Bevanna ordered them to contact Mr. Davies, the demigod from the Church of Death and End stationed in Nolan. Perhaps the eighth-level Enchanter, an expert in the spirits of the dead, would have a way to handle it.

While they waited, Jenkins stepped out of the bedroom. He was of no use there anyway. In fact, being too close only agitated his White Bone Holy Sword. He had a strong feeling the sword could absorb whatever Mysterious Object was at play.

But he had no intention of trying. For one, it might shatter the fragile balance of life and death within the sword. For another, if his precious weapon became corrupted into a Cursed Item in the process, the loss would be far greater than any potential gain.